Reserve bid successful

Ettrick St resident Kaye Fraser with her family and neighbour Peter Sayers outside the Invercargill City Council offices on Monday. Photos: Sanda Jukic

THE community has been successful in its bid to save the Teviot St Reserve.

City Council (ICC) decided not to proceed with selling off the green space at a meeting on Monday following strong public opposition to the plan.

The council received 30 submissions on the proposal, 27 in opposition, two in support and one which neither indicated support or opposition.

Resident Kaye Fraser was one of five submitters opposed to the proposal who spoke at the meeting.

Ettrick St resident Kaye Fraser speaks at an Invercargill City Council meeting on Monday.

Mrs Fraser said having the reserve across the road as a place for her four children to play was one of the reasons she bought her Ettrick St home 18 months ago.

After hearing the submitters, Cr Lindsay Abbott said the decision not to proceed with the sale was a “no-brainer”.

Cr Ian Pottinger asked Sport Southland representatives if they could assist with funding for goalposts and suggested the council consider funding covered shelter and seating for the area.

After the meeting, Mrs Fraser said she was relieved by the outcome.

“I feel like a huge weight has been lifted.

“My forever home will stay as my forever home.”

Disposing of the Teviot St Reserve was part of the ICC’s 2013 Parks Strategy, which identified 22 pieces of reserve land thought to be under-utilised the council would consider selling off in the future.